For immediate release

by Alan Jamieson

Why do long-standing committed members of evangelical, Pentecostal and charismatic churches leave? What happens to their faith afterwards? How can church leaders better deal with this problem?

Baptist pastor and sociologist Alan Jamieson of Wellington, New Zealand has studied this phenomena for many years and provides thoughtful answers to these issues in his recent book A Churchless Faith (ISBN 0-473-07021-9, Philip Garside Publishing Ltd, 2000).

This book is the doctoral thesis on Alan Jamieson’s research into church leavers from evangelical, Pentecostal and charismatic (EPC) churches in New Zealand which he did under the guidance of the Sociology Department of Canterbury University. Its material is equally relevant in Australia.

Andrew Dunn writing in Presbyterian/Methodist paper Crosslink, March 2001, responded to A Churchless Faith this way:

“It’s ground-breaking stuff – the first serious attempt in New Zealand (perhaps anywhere) to research why many people (often leaders) leave these growing churches. We have often talked about how to ‘close the back door’ of our churches, to find ways of holding people long-term, and many are the attempts made to do this.

Here is research into what is really happening and why, and suggestions of how to meet the leavers frankly and honestly as people with concerns and genuine issues that they are working through. Perhaps it is the ‘closing the back door’ mentality that has blinded so many leaders of these churches to the real pain and thoughtful questions and observations that most leavers have. It is not a matter of ‘backsliding,’ or of leaving the faith.

Jamieson has done us a major service in exploring leavers and the issues around which their discontent grew. That involves a fascinating analysis of EPC churches. He then explores the issues raised by the 108 leavers interviewed [in both Australia and New Zealand] and suggests the following groupings as ways of understanding them: Disillusioned Followers, Reflective Exiles, Transitional Explorers and Integrated Wayfinders.

Jamieson offers his ‘swimming beyond the flags’ image from our beaches to describe the growing urge in many worshippers to explore the faith and the deeper questions of life and theology. He offers suggestions on how to become leaver-sensitive churches and important comment on leavers’ searches for places to belong to, Turangawaewae.

He is exploring ways of helping leavers to find places for themselves – liminal (threshold) groups – and how churches can play a role in this.

There are helpful suggestions of how church leadership can offer supportive structures and one to one help (e.g. spiritual direction) as people struggle with their issues.

This is a very significant and hope-full book for churches, leadership and leavers.”

Many other favourable reviews and endorsements, together with extracts from the book, are online at http://www.pgpl.co.nz

The book, now in its second printing, was short listed for the NZ Christian Booksellers Assn book of the year award in 2001.

A Churchless Faith is now available in Australia from Koorong Books and The Open Book or online at http://www.pgpl.co.nz For trade enquiries and review copies contact the publisher at P O Box 17 160, Wellington, New Zealand or email

Philip Garside Publisher – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Ask about New Zealand books & publishing services from Philip Garside Publishing Ltd Email: Web site: http://www.pgpl.co.nz Phone/Mobile: +64 4 475 8154 Fax: +64 4 475 8158 Post: Box 17 160, Wellington, New Zealand Courier: 39 Sydenham Street, Northland, Wellington, N.Z.

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